PARTURITION. 521 



should also see that the foetus is in the proper position before 

 bringing any force to bear on its removal. In cases re- 

 quiring the employment of force to effect delivery, a dis- 

 regard of this rule is the cause of most of the failures. 



MALPRESENTATIONS. 



Malpresentation of the foetus fortunately is rarely met 

 with. A description of all the abnormal presentations 

 that have been observed would be sufficient to fill a 

 large volume, hence a few, only, of these conditions Avill 

 be described. A very common presentation is that in 

 which the head of the foetus is presented in a proper manner 

 with the limbs turned backward. The practitioner, on 

 making an examination, is unable to feel anything but its 

 head. In such a case the head should be pressed upon and 

 forced back in such a manner as to allow the practitioner 

 to pass his hand into the uterus and grasp the fetlocks, 

 which may now be drawn into proper position. This done, 

 delivery may, as a rule, be easily accomplished. In some 

 cases it may be necessary to place a small rope around thejfet- 

 locks — the rope should be of some soft material, as cotton, 

 etc. 



Presentation of the legs with the head turned back 

 constitutes a very difficult presentation, and one that will 

 give the practitioner much trouble, especially when all the 

 farmers, and would-be knowing ones in the neighbourhood, 

 have been hauling and pulling at the foetus in ineffectual 

 attempts to deliver it before the arrival of the practitioner. 

 The first procedure should be to place a small cotton rope 

 around each fore fetlock. This done, the practitioner 

 should make every effort to get hold of the head and bring 

 it into the proper position for delivery. In many cases it 

 will be found necessary to attach a rope to the lower jaw. 

 Some practitioners use a hook, which may be implanted in 



